Apparatus for imputting commodity data

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for imputting commodity data, including a bar code scanner and a keyboard for inputting the commodity data. The apparatus further includes a supporting member for pivotably supporting the keyboard at its front end, a plurality of engagement portions provided at one of opposed portions between the keyboard and the supporting member and arranged on an arc about an axis of rotation of the keyboard, a stopper member provided at the other of the opposed portions and adapted to be releasably engaged with any one of the engagement portions, and a release mechanism connected to the stopper member for releasing the stopper member from the engagement portion, the release mechanism having a knob projecting from the front end of the supporting member of the keyboard for operating the release mechanism.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

The present invention relates to an apparatus for inputting commoditydata including a bar code scanner for reading a bar code attached to acommodity and a keyboard for inputting the commodity data.

In a conventional apparatus for inputting commodity data, a bar codescanner and a keyboard are provided at a central portion of a sackertable. During the course that a cashier takes out a commodity from abasket placed on the sacker table at one end thereof and then puts thecommodity into another basket placed on the sacker table at the otherend, a bar code attached on the commodity taken by the cashier is readby the bar code scanner. If no bar code is attached or the bar code isstained or broken to result in incapability of reading by the bar codescanner, a commodity class and account are registered by the keyboard.

In such an input apparatus, when the cashier inputs the commodity datathrough the keyboard, she operates the keyboard as alternately lookingat the commodity and the keyboard. However, as the keyboard is fixedlysupported, an angle of inclination of the keyboard cannot be adjustedaccording to a height of the cashier. Accordingly, some cashier isobliged to keep an unnatural posture such as a height of the cashier'shand or an angle of bending of the cashier's wrist, causing a badoperability and fatigue.

In the case that the assembly of the bar code scanner, the keyboard anda display mounted to a frame is transported to a desired location, thereis a possibility that the bar code scanner, the keyboard and the displaywill collide with an ambient furniture or the like to be marred duringtransportation.

Further, the bar code scanner is also fixedly supported, and a scanningdirection and range of laser beam from a reading window of the bar codescanner are fixed. To the contrary, the position of the bar codeattached to the commodity is various according to the kind of thecommodity, and the height of the commodity taken by the cashier is alsovarious according to the height of the cashier. In the circumstances,when the bar code is read by the bar code scanner, the cashier confirmsthe position of the bar code with her eyes to place the bar code inopposition to the reading window. Then, the cashier looks at the displayto confirm a reading result output from the bar code scanner. However,as the display is located at a position higher than the bar codescanner, the display comes out of a visible field of the cashier uponplacing the bar code in opposition to the reading window. Accordingly,the cashier must look at the commodity and the reading window andthereafter look at the display with her eyes turned for every readingoperation. This results in the tendency of fatigue of her eyes.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a commoditydata inputting apparatus which may adjust the angle of inclination ofthe keyboard according to the height and posture of a cashier.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a commoditydata inputting apparatus which may protect the keyboard, the bar codescanner and the display during transportation.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a commoditydata inputting apparatus wherein the display is located at a positionwithin a visible field of a cashier when she looks at the reading windowof the bar code scanner to place the bar code of a commodity inopposition to the reading window.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a commoditydata inputting apparatus which may adjust the height of the keyboard ina wide range.

According to the present invention, there is provided in an apparatusfor inputting commodity data, including a bar code scanner and akeyboard for inputting the commodity data; the improvement comprising asupporting member for pivotably supporting said keyboard at its frontend, a plurality of engagement portions provided at one of opposedportions between said keyboard and said supporting member and arrangedon an arc about an axis of rotation of said keyboard, a stopper memberprovided at the other of said opposed portions and adapted to bereleasably engaged with any one of said engagement portions, and arelease mechanism connected to said stopper member for releasing saidstopper member from said engagement portion, said release mechanismhaving a knob projecting from the front end of said supporting member ofsaid keyboard for operating said release mechanism.

With this construction, the rotational movement of the keyboard isstopped by engaging the stopper member with any one of the engagementportions. When the knob of the release mechanism is operated, thestopper member can be released from the engagement portion to therebyenable the angle of inclination of the keyboard to be adjusted accordingto the height of the cashier. Even in the case that the height of thekeyboard is excessive for the cashier, the input operation such as awrist angle can be improved by inclining the keyboard toward thecashier. Further, as the keyboard is rotated at its front end, the frontsurface of the keyboard mounting plural keys thereon comes near thecashier's hand. Further, as the plural engagement portions are arranged,the angle of inclination of the keyboard can be varied in multiplesteps. Additionally, as the knob of the release mechanism projects fromthe front end of the keyboard toward the cashier, the cashier can easilyadjust the angle of inclination of the keyboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left side view of a first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the supporting structure for the bar codescanner and the key board;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, partially broken away, of the release mechanismsmounted on the mounting member;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional left side view of the pivotablesupporting structure for the base mounting the keyboard thereon;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view, partially broken away, of theconnecting structure for the stop lever and the sliding bar;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional left side view of the pivotablesupporting structure for the display;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the connecting structure for the frameand the hydraulic cylinder;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment mounted to asacker table; and

FIG. 10 is a left side view of a second preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

There will now be described a first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. Referring first to FIG. 9,reference numeral 1 designates a sacker table provided at its centralportion with a frame 2 for supporting a bar code scanner 4 having areading window 3 on a front surface thereof, a keyboard 6 for inputtingcommodity data, and a display 7 for a cashier. A body case 5 of thekeyboard 6 is integrally formed with a card inserting portion 5a forinserting a magnetic card thereinto. The body case 5 includes under thecard inserting portion 5a a magnetic data reading portion (not shown)for reading magnetic data of the magnetic card.

Referring to FIG. 8, the frame 2 is constructed of a pair of right andleft pillars 8, a pair of pillar covers 9 for covering outside surfacesof the pillars 8 from a central position to an upper position thereof,and a U-shaped connecting frame 10 for connecting lower portions of thepillars 8. Each of the pillars 8 is formed with a vertically elongatedhole 12 and plural set holes 13 arranged vertically. On the other hand,the connecting frame 10 is formed with plural tapped holes (not shown)arranged in alignment with the elongated hole 12 and the set holes 13 ofeach pillar 8. A set screw 11 is inserted from the inside of the frame 2through the elongated hole 12 of each pillar 8 into the tapped hole ofthe connecting frame 10, and another set screw 11' is also inserted fromthe inside of the frame 2 through any one of the set holes 13 of eachpillar 8 into the other tapped hole of the connecting frame 10.Accordingly, the height of the frame 2 can be adjusted by selecting oneof the set holes 13 into which the set screw 11' is to be inserted.Thus, the pillars 8 are telescopically movably mounted to the connectingframe 10. A pair of vertically elongated projections 14 are fixed onouter side surfaces of the connecting frame 10, and a pair ofrectangular pipes 15 are fixed to the projections 14, respectively. Therectangular pipes 15 are vertically slidably inserted in a pair ofvertical guide members 16 stationarily standing on a floor. Each of theguide members 16 is formed with a vertically elongated slit 17 forinserting each projection 14 and permitting escape of the same uponsliding of the rectangular pipes 15 relative to the guide members 16.The connecting frame 10 is operatively connected to a piston 19 of ahydraulic cylinder 18 fixed on the floor. The hydraulic cylinder 18 isconnected through a pipe 21 to a hydraulic jack 20.

Referring next to FIGS. 1 to 3 which show a supporting structure for thebar code scanner 4 and the keyboard 6, the bar code scanner 4 ispivotably supported at its lower end through a pivotal shaft 22 to thepillars 8 in such a manner as to be pivoted from a vertical positionparallel to the pillars 8 to a rightward inclined position as viewed inFIGS. 1 to 3 (i.e., in a direction facing down to the cashier). Amounting member 24 formed of metal is fixed by screws on an uppersurface of a housing 23 of the bar code scanner 4. The mounting member24 has a substantially U-shaped configuration as viewed in rearelevation such that is opens upwardly. A pair of stop levers 26 arepivotably supported at their base ends through a pair of pivotal shafts27 to opposite outer sides of the mounting member 24. Each of the stoplevers 26 is provided at its free end with a pin 25 projectingoutwardly. On the other hand, a pair of guide members 28 are fixed onthe inside surfaces of the pillars 8 so as to guide the pins 25 alongthe rotational direction of the bar code scanner 4. Each of the guidemembers 28 is formed with plural engagement holes 29 arrangedlongitudinally thereof, one of which is engageable with the pin 25 ofeach stop lever 26. Each stop lever 26 is formed of an elastic material,so that it may be elastically flexed in a direction of its thickness.

The keyboard 6 is provided on its lower surface with a metal base 30having a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration as viewed in rearelevation such that it opens downwardly. The base 30 is pivotablyconnected on its opposite sides through a pair of pivotal shafts 31 tothe opposite sides of the mounting member 24. The pivotal shafts 31 arelocated on the front side facing the cashier (i.e., on the right-handside as viewed in FIGS. 1 to 3). The opposite side portions of the base30 are formed with a pair of arcuate sawtoothed portions each havingplural recesses 32 arranged on an arc about the pivotal shaft 31. Anyone of the recesses 32 is engageable with a lateral shaft 33 supportedin a pair of elongated holes 34a formed through the opposite sideportions of the mounting member 24. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, each ofthe elongated holes 34a extends in a direction of advance and retractionof the lateral shaft 33 relative to the recess 32. A pair of springs 34are provided to bias the lateral shaft 33 in the direction of advanceand thereby resiliently engage one of the recesses 32. That is, one endof each spring 34 is connected to the lateral shaft 33, while the otherend is fixed to each outer side surface of the mounting member 24.

Referring to FIG. 4, reference numeral 35 generally designates a firstrelease mechanism for releasing the lateral shaft 33 from the recess 32,and reference numeral 36 generally designates a second release mechanismfor releasing the pin 25 of the stop lever 26 from the engagement hole29. The first release mechanism 35 includes a knob 37 projecting towardthe cashier, a lever 39 connected to the knob 37 and pivotably supportedthrough a vertical pivot pin 38 to the bottom surface of the mountingmember 24, and a pair of wires 40 connected to the lever 39 at oppositepositions with respect to the pivot pin 38. The wires 40 extend from thelever 39 through plural pulleys 41 rotatably mounted to the bottomsurface of the mounting member 24 and plural pulleys 42 and 43 rotatablymounted to the opposite side surfaces of the mounting member 24 to theopposite ends of the lateral shaft 33. Accordingly, the lever 39 isnormally drawn clockwise as viewed in FIG. 4 by a tension of the wires40 biased by a tensile force of the springs 34 connected to the lateralshaft 33. A stopper pin 44 is provided on the bottom surface of themounting member 24 so as to restrict a rotational amount of the lever39.

The second release mechanism 36 includes a knob 45 projecting toward thecashier, a lever 47 connected to the knob 45 and pivotably supportedthrough a vertical pivot pin 46 to the bottom surface of the mountingmember 24, and sliding bars 48 and 49 connected to the lever 47 atopposite positions with respect to the pivot pin 46. The sliding bars 48and 49 are guided by plural guide pins 51 mounted on the bottom surfaceof the mounting member 24, and extend to the stop levers 26. The lever47 is normally rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 4 by the elasticforce of the stopper levers 26. A stopper pin 50 is provided on thebottom surface of the mounting member 24 so as to restrict a rotationalamount of the lever 47.

The sliding bars 48 and 49 project outwardly from the opposite outersides of the mounting member 24. Each of the sliding bars 48 and 49 isformed at its outer projecting end with a normally bent portion 52extending along the stop lever 26. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each bentportion 52 is formed with a substantially vertically elongated hole 53.As shown in FIG. 6, an internally threaded pipe 54 is mounted at acentral portion of the stop lever 26 to project inwardly therefrom, andis inserted through the elongated hole 53 of the bent portion 52 of thesliding bar 48 (49). A screw 55 is threadedly engaged with theinternally threaded pipe 54 from the inside of the bent portion 52,thereby connecting the bent portion 52 with the stop lever 26. Acompression spring 56 is engaged around the internally threaded pipe 54,and is interposed between the bent portion 52 and the stop lever 26.

While the rotational amount of the lever 39 is restricted by the stopperpin 44 as mentioned above, it is defined in such a manner that even whenthe lever 39 is rotated counterclockwise to the limit to draw the wires40, the lateral shaft 33 is slightly engaged with an open portion ofeach recess 32. In this case, the elongated holes 34a for supporting thelateral shaft 33 have a length sufficient to permit further retractionof the lateral shaft 33 from the open portion of each recess 32.

Referring next to FIG. 7, a housing 57 of the cashier's display 7 isformed by connecting a light transmitting cover 59 to an open top of acase 58. A special form shaft 60 is fixedly mounted between the pillars8, and is inserted through the housing 57. A pair of plate cams 62 arefixedly engaged with the special form shaft 60 at opposite ends thereof.Each plate cam 62 is formed with an arcuate sawtoothed portion havingplural recesses 61 arranged on an arc about the special form shaft 60.An engagement member 63 resiliently engaging any one of the recesses 61is fixed by a screw to a boss 64 formed in the case 58. The case 58 isformed with a pair of slits 65 for receiving the plate cams 62. Theopposite surfaces of each plate cam 62 contact the opposite inner wallsof each slit 65, thereby restricting the axial movement of the housing57 relative to the special form shaft 60. The side edge of each platecam 62 about the axis of the special form shaft 60 is opposed to theother inner wall of each slit 65 with a predetermined play such that arotational amount of the housing 57 relative to the special form shaft60 is set to about 15 degrees. The bottom of the case 58 is open so asto insert the special form shaft 60 and the plates cams 62, and the openbottom is closed by a bottom cover 66 fixed thereto by screws. While thedisplay 7 is provided to face the cashier, another display 67 for acustomer is provided between the upper ends of the opposite pillars 8 soas to face the customer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper portion of the frame 2 has a depth largerthan that of the bar code scanner 4 in the vertical position. That is,the upper portion of the frame 2 is formed with a pair of coveringportions 68 for sufficiently covering the opposite side surfaces of thebar code scanner 4 in the vertical position. Similarly, the intermediateportion of the frame 2 has a depth larger than a length of the diagonalof the display 7 as viewed in side elevation. That is, the intermediateportion of the frame 2 is formed with a pair of covering portions 69 forsufficiently covering the opposite side surface of the display 7irrespective of its rotational position.

In operation, the lateral shaft 33 is normally biased by the springs 34to engage any one of the recesses 32 of the base 30 of the keyboard 6.As a result, the rotational movement of the keyboard 6 is stopped tomaintain the keyboard 6 stably in a desired angular position. When theknob 37 of the first release mechanism 35 is operated to rotate thelever 39 in the counterclockwise direction, the wires 40 are pulled toretract the lateral shaft 33 from the recess 32 against the biasingforce of the springs 34. Accordingly, the operator can rotate thekeyboard 6 about the pivotal shafts 31 to adjust the angle ofinclination of the keyboard 6. In this adjusting operation of thekeyboard 6, the rotational amount of the lever 39 is restricted by thestopper pin 44. Therefore, the lateral shaft 33 can be maintained inslight engagement with the recess 32 as shown in FIG. 5, so that thekeyboard 6 may be prevented from being unintentionally lowered by itsdeadweight. When the keyboard 6 is forcibly rotated under such aslightly engaged condition, the lateral shaft 33 is further retractedfrom the recess 32 by a component of the rotational force applied to thekeyboard 6. As shown in FIG. 5, the opposite side portions of the base30 are formed with an upper stopper 30a just above the uppermost recess32 and a lower stopper 30b just below the lowermost recess 32, so thatthe lateral shaft 33 can be stopped by the upper stopper 30a or thelower stopper 30b to thereby restrict the rotational amount of thekeyboard 6 relative to the mounting member 24.

On the other hand, the pin 25 of each stop lever 26 of the mountingmember 24 is normally engaged with any one of the engagement holes 29 ofeach guide member 28. As a result, the rotational movement of the barcode scanner 4 about the pivotal shaft 22 is stopped to maintain the barcode scanner stably in a desired angular position. When the knob 45 ofthe second release mechanism 36 is operated to rotate the lever 47 inthe counterclockwise direction, the sliding bars 48 and 49 are drawninwardly to pull the stop levers 26 inwardly. As a result, each stoplever 26 is elastically flexed to release the pin 25 from the engagementhole 29. Therefore, the operator can rotate the bar code scanner 4 aboutthe pivotal shaft 22 to downwardly incline the same from the verticalposition parallel to the pillars 8 to a desired angular position. Whenthe knob 47 is released from the operator's hand, each stop lever 26 isreturned to its normal condition by its elasticity as outwardly pullingthe sliding bars 48 and 49, and the pin 25 is brought into engagementwith the engagement hole 29 as selected.

Further, the display 7 is normally maintained stably in a desiredangular position where the front surface is upwardly inclined to facethe cashier because the engagement member 63 is resiliently engaged withany one of the recesses 61 of each plate cam 62. When the housing 57 ofthe display 7 is forcibly rotated about the special form shaft 60 fixedto the plate cams 62 against the resiliency of the engagement member 63,the angle of inclination of the display 7 can be adjusted. At this time,the engagement member 63 comes into engagement with the other one of therecesses 61.

In adjusting the height of the frame 2, a pedal 20a of the hydraulicjack 20 is depressed by the operator's foot with a controlled force tosupply a hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic cylinder 18. As a result,the frame 2 is lifted by the piston 19. When the operator's foot isreleased from the pedal 20a, the lifting operation of the frame 2 isstopped to maintain the frame 2 at a desired height. Under thecondition, when the pedal 20a is fully depressed, the hydraulic pressurein the hydraulic cylinder 18 is returned to the hydraulic jack 20 tothereby lower the frame 2. Thus, the heights of the bar code scanner 4,the keyboard 6 and the displays 7 and 67 can be desirably adjusted.Furthermore, as the hydraulic jack 20 is used as a power source forlifting the frame 2, the adjustment can be carried out easily with lesslabor according to a height of the cashier.

In registering the commodity data, the bar code attached to a commodityis read by the bar code scanner 4 during the course that the cashiertakes out the commodity from a basket placed on the sacker table 1 atone end thereof and then puts the commodity into another basket placedon the sacker table 1 at the other end. If no bar code is attached orthe bar code is stained, the cashier operates the keyboard 6 to inputthe commodity data as alternately looking at the keyboard 6 and thesurface of the commodity on which its quality or the like is indicated.

In transporting the apparatus, the bar code scanner 4 is maintained inthe vertical position parallel to the pillars 8 of the frame 2. Underthe condition, the bar code scanner 4 does not project from the frontand rear edges of the covering portions 68 of the frame 2, and it doesnot therefore interfere with other furniture or the like. Further, thedisplay 7 also does not project from the front and rear edges of thecovering portions 69 of the frame 2 irrespective of its rotationalposition, thereby preventing the interference of the display 7 withother furniture or the like.

Referring to FIG. 10 which shows a second preferred embodiment whereinthe same reference numerals denote the same parts as the first preferredembodiment, a pair of covering portions 70 for covering the oppositesides of the keyboard 6 are formed at the upper end portion of the frame2. That is, when the bar code scanner 4 is maintained in the verticalposition, and the keyboard 6 is maintained at the minimum angle ofelevation, the opposite sides of the keyboard 6 are fully covered withthe covering portions 70. So, in transporting the apparatus, theinterference of the keyboard 6 with other furniture or the like can beprevented by the covering portions 70. Similarly, the interference ofthe bar code scanner 4 and the display 7 with other furniture or thelike can be prevented by the covering portions 68 and 69, respectively,as previously mentioned in the first preferred embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for inputting commodity data,comprising:a bar code scanner supported on a frame; a keyboard forinputting the commodity data, said keyboard comprising a base havingopposing side portions, said opposing side portions of said base eachdefining engagement means, said engagement means being arranged on anarc about an axis of rotation of said keyboard; a supporting member onsaid bar code scanner for pivotably supporting said keyboard at itsfront end, said supporting member comprising stopper means forselectively engaging with any one of said engagement means so as todetermine and maintain the rotational position of said keyboard; and arelease mechanism connected to said stopper means for releasing saidstopper means from said engagement means, said release mechanismcomprising a knob projecting from said supporting member of saidkeyboard for operating said release mechanism; wherein said framefurther supports said keyboard and a cashier's display connected to saidbar code scanner and said keyboard, said bar code scanner having areading window on a front surface thereof, wherein said bar code scannerand said display are located below said keyboard and are mounted to saidframe, said bar code scanner is rotatably mounted to said frame in sucha manner as to be rotatable from a substantially vertical position to adownward inclined position, and said display is located below said barcode scanner.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said framepivotably supports said bar code scanner in such a manner that said barcode scanner can be rotated from a substantially vertical position to adownward inclined position and can be maintained at a desired angularposition between said substantially vertical position and said downwardinclined position, and a pair of covering portions are formed onopposite side surfaces of said frame for covering opposite side surfacesof said bar code scanner in the substantially vertical position.
 3. Theapparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame pivotably supportssaid bar code scanner in such a manner that said bar code scanner can berotated from a substantially vertical position to a downward inclinedposition and can be maintained at a desired angular position betweensaid substantially vertical position and said downward inclinedposition, said cashier's display is connected to said bar code scannerand pivotably mounted to said frame in such a manner as to be rotatableabout a horizontal pivotal axis and be maintainable at a desiredrotational position, and a pair of covering portions are formed onopposite side surfaces of said frame for covering opposite side surfacesof said display.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein saidframe pivotably supports said bar code scanner, a pair of first coveringportions are formed on opposite side surfaces of said frame for coveringopposite side surfaces of said bar code scanner in its substantiallyvertical position, said cashier's display is pivotably supported to saidframe, and a pair of second covering portions are formed on the oppositeside surfaces of said frame for covering opposite side surfaces of saiddisplay.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said display isrotatably mounted to said frame in such a manner as to be rotatableabout a horizontal pivotal axis.
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1,wherein said frame comprises a plurality of supporting posts adjustablein height and a connecting member for connecting said supporting posts;a lifting mechanism connected to said frame for vertically adjustablylifting said frame; and a driving source for driving said liftingmechanism.
 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said drivingsource is provided with an operating pedal located aside said bar codescanner and below a sacker table.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said release mechanism further comprises means for maintaining aslight engagement between said stopper means and said engagement meanswhen said release mechanism is activated so as to prevent anunintentional movement of said keyboard.